Newsletter to Parents

STANFORD MERTHYR INFANTS SCHOOL

Vision Statement:

Working together, making a difference with every child. Find us at: email: stanmerthi-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au Maitland Street, Stanford Merthyr NSW 2327 www.stanmerthi-p.school.nsw.edu.au Phone: (02) 4937 1192 Fax: (02) 4936 1178 www.facebook.com/stanfordmerthyr Term 1 Week 2 5th February 2019

Week 3 Term 4

Dear families and friends of Stanford Merthyr Infants:

NEWSLETTERS: Newsletters are published fortnightly on Tuesday afternoons. They will be handed to the oldest child in each family. If you

do not receive one because your child is absent, please see Classroom teacher to collect your copy . They are also emailed if we have your ad-dress and are available on-line. Just type in the school web address as written above.

DATES FOR TERM 1 NEWSLETTERS Tuesdays 5th Feb, 19th Feb, 5th March, 19th

March, 2nd April.

CODE OF CONDUCT LETTER

This newsletter contains a copy our School’s Code of Conduct which is for staff, students and parents. I am asking each family to please sign this letter and return it to school. Thank you.

COMMUNICATING UP-COMING EVENTS Every week I write the important events on the portable boards just inside the gates. Please

check our Facebook page as well. I also send SMS’s to you on your mobile phone. Please do not reply to these messages. This newsletter is al-so important to read, as it will inform you of what is happening during the term. It is very important

that you keep the office staff informed if you change your phone numbers or if you change your address. Please also ensure that your emergency contact number is the current one. Thank you.

Please see me if you ever have any questions.

PLAYGROUND SUPERVISION IN MORNINGS. Teachers are not on duty before 8:30am each morning. Please come and see me if your child has a reason to be dropped off before that time on occasions. They will need

to be seated on a silver seat outside and remain seated until the teacher comes out on duty.

BOOK PACKS PAYMENT FOR STUDENTS FOR 2019. All book packs for this year will cost $60 per child.

Teachers appreciate you paying for these packs as every child can then be given the same books and the same equipment. This covers pencils, coloured pencils, glue and rubbers as well. Please note that students will only receive one book for all work until these payments have been

made. We invite you to please pay for these as soon as possible at the office. EFTPOS is available. Payments can also be made Online via our school page. Thank you.

.

Term 1 Assembly Roster Thursdays 2:15pm

14th February First assembly Platypus class present work

21st February Emu class present work

28th February Kangaroo class present work

7th March Kookaburra class present work

14th March Platypus class perform item

21st March Emu class perform item

28th March Kangaroo class perform item

4th April Kookaburra class perform item

11th April Awards only

THURSDAY FRUIT BREAK

Thur 7th Feb Clarissa Woodger Thur 14th Feb Holly Avery

Allergies

We have students who are

Anaphylactic, so I am asking

please that there are no nut

products brought to school.

We have students who are Anaphylactic, so I am asking please that there are no nut products brought to school.

8th Feb Kookaburras Ruby A

Kangaroos Ryan B

Emus Phoebe B

Platypuses Wyatt B

15th Feb Kookaburras Tyler A

Kangaroos Willow B

Emus Banjo B

Platypuses Robert C

BAKER,BAKER FRIDAY NO PEANUT PRODUCTS ARE TO BE USED

VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION FEES FOR 2019 Our school is charging $35 voluntary contribution fees this year. This covers us providing such items as art resources, tissues, toilet paper and hand wash.

HOME READING PROGRAM. Home reading will begin this week for Year 1 and 2 stu-dents. Staff will assist you Monday-Friday before the bell rings at 9.00am and provide you with a new home reading folder. Please go there as soon as you arrive at

school and before your child puts their bag outside their classrooms. Children are encouraged to read at home each night. If your child looses a book at home, they will not be given another one to take home as each book costs at least $9:00. Grandparents can also

change home readers if parents are not available. Kin-dergarten students will begin reading in a months time.

SCHOOL PHOTOS School photos will be taken Tuesday 12th February here at school. An envelope will be handed out with to-

days Newsletter explaining the costs. Please order online or hand the envelope with exact money enclosed, to the office before the morning of the 12th February.

LIBRARY BORROWING FOR 2019 Mrs Ceccato, our librarian has requested that all chil-dren’s please provide a bag to use for borrowing library books are she asks that these books are returned each Tuesday all year. Classes will change each term as to the day they have library. Sometimes Tuesdays, some-

times Wednesdays.

P&C ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING I would like to invite all parents, grandparents and in-terested community members to our AGM for the P&C which will be held in the library on Monday 11th Febru-ary starting at 2:00pm. It would be fabulous to

have some new faces as well as the parents who have been willing to assist the school in 2019.

BAKER BAKER EACH FRIDAY Each Friday, A student from each class is ros-tered to be a baker at re-

cess. This requires the child to bring some cakes or biscuits to sell which can be either homemade or purchased. All students are en-couraged to bring 10c or 20c to school to purchase a treat from the bakers. If it is your turn, you will be

notified in advance by the newsletter. Special baker outfits are provided by the school. The bakers prac-tice financial literacy skills through selling and giving change. The total of their sales is calculated with teachers and sent home with them at the end of the

day. NB We do not allow any foods made with peanuts or peanut butter. This program will begin this Friday 8th February.

THANK YOU TO OUR KURRI KURRI ROTARY SUNRISE CLUB VOLUNTEERS. Each Monday morning three members of the Kurri Ro-tary Sunrise Club come and provide breakfast for our

students. This provides a great start to the week for our students. Many thanks to Des, Lynne and Maria.

THANKYOU TO THE KURRI BREAD BASKET Every Monday morning the Kurri Rotary Sunrise Club serve toast and juice here at school from 8;30am. Stewart and Sharon Lattar from the Kurri Bread Bas-ket shop have again very kindly agreed to support our

school. Thank you Stewart and Sharon.

ABSENCE NOTES

Please send in a note to the office to explain your child’s absence from school each day they are away, or verbally phone to notify one of the office staff. I need to send letters to you for any unexplained absences. Thank you.

PARENT INFORMATION MEET-INGS/ FAMILY BBQ TEA (Order forms are attached to this newslet-ter.) We would like to invite all parents and children to

school next Wednesday 13th February at 3:15pm, to meet the staff and hear about the programmes we are running for your children this year. It will also give parents an opportunity to meet new people. We explain the academic, sporting and cultural activities

as well as our excursions for 2019. There will be time to ask questions. We will conclude with a BBQ to pro-vide you with an early dinner. Please return the BBQ orders by Monday 11th February for catering pur-poses. We look forward to meeting you and an-

swering any questions you may have.

Calendar of Events for Term One 2019

Mondays all year from 4th February Breakfast provided at the canteen served by Kurri Rotary Sunrise Club.

Thursdays all year P&C provide fruit & vegetable platters for the children

Every Tuesday from 5th February Playgroup for all children birth to 5 years 9:30am-11:00 here at school

Monday 11th February P & C AGM 2.00pm. All welcome to attend

Tuesday 12th February School professional photos being taken at school

Wednesday 13th February Parent Info Meetings Emu and Platypus classes 3.15-4.00pm BBQ 4:45pm

Wednesday 13th February Parent Info Meetings Kangaroo and Kookaburra classes 4.00-4:45 BBQ 4:45pm

Wednesday 13th February Free Vision Health Care Screening for Kindergarten students.

Friday 15th February Feedback information re Best Start Assessments handed to parents.

Monday 18th February Parent Workshop at 9am : Helping your child with Home Reading

Monday 18th February Domino’s Pizza Fundraiser - 4pm to 8pm

Fridays 22nd Feb and 1st March Cricket coaching sessions

Friday 1st March Clean Up Australia day—clean up our school playground and Stanford Park

Fridays 8th and 15th March Free K-2 program for students by Variety organisation entitled “Just Like You.”

Monday 11th March Back to Stanford Day for last years Year 2 students to visit us.

Tuesday 12th March 3 Way conferences with teacher, child and parents for Emu Class

Wednesday 13th March 3 Way conferences with teacher, child and parents for Platypus Class

Monday 18th March P&C Meeting 2pm.

Saturday 23rd March State Elections Polling booth here in the library

Friday 29th March K-2 Bike Day excursion at Peace Park Cessnock

Tuesday 2nd April Teddy Bear Picnic at School for Kinder students beginning in 2019

Tuesday 2nd April 3 Way conferences with teacher, child and parents for Kinder Kookaburras

Wednesday 3rd April 3 Way conferences with teacher, child and parents of K /1 Kangaroos.

Thursday 4th April Excursion to Kurri Kurri Public School for talk by author Matt Stanton

Friday 5th April Crazy Hair and Ice-cream Day.

Monday 8th April Making Easter Hats in class– parents and grandparents invited to help.

Thursday 11th April Class of the term party

Thursday 12th April Easter Hat Parade

Friday 12th April Fun Day activities /out of Uniform day, Final day of term.

School Holidays Monday 15th April.-30th April. Teachers Professional Development day is Monday 29th April. Students return Tuesday 30th April.

THURSDAY FRUIT BREAK The P&C kindly purchase fruit for all our students each Thursday. Parents do not need to send fruit in with their child on Thursdays. This is cut up by a parent any time from

8:30-9:30am and usually takes about 20 minutes to get four trays prepared for our four classes. I will ring you during the year to ask if you are prepared to help with this. You would only be asked about twice during the year if everyone is prepared to take a turn. I would like to thank Erin Burnside who is prepared to purchase the fruit from Coles each week for fruit break.

SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES EACH THURSDAY AT 2:15pm Every Thursday at 2:15pm commencing on 14th February, the children come to the hall for our weekly assem-bly. Parents are most welcome to come and join us in congratulating the students achievements each week.

PLAYGROUP FOR PRE-SCHOOLERS STARTING TUESDAY 5TH FEBRUARY

Playgroup is held here at school each Tuesday morning from 9:15am –11:00am for children from birth to 5 years of age. A School Support Officer organises the craft activities and sets up play activities but parents have to look after their pre-schooler and pack up equipment at 11am. The cost is a gold coin donation each week. We would welcome any new parents and children.

STUDENT BANKING Student Banking has commenced and is conducted every Tuesday this year. Just bring your completed student’s bank book to the office on Tuesday mornings and it can be collected in the afternoon.

BOOKCLUB

Issue 1 for 2019 has been sent home. Please return your order to the office by Tuesday 19th February.

PERMISSION NOTES ARE AT THE OFFICE Permission notes for excursions, barbeques and other events will not be printed in the newsletter. I will

write to inform you what event is happening and ask if you would please come to the office to complete and sign the forms and pay at the office. This saves us printing out the same forms twice. Thank you.

SCHOOL CANTEEN IS OPEN MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS BEGINNING 11TH FEB.

Our school is very fortunate to have Mrs Leigh James who has taken the responsibility of co-ordinating the smooth operation of our canteen. She has worked hard with the Healthy Kids Assoc to ensure the healthi-est choices of food possible is available for our students. The canteen needs your support please to ensure we can provide this service for you. If you would have a free two hours once a month, please see Leigh or myself. Leigh will put a canteen roster in the notice box opposite the canteen for you to write your availa-

bility. Thank you. A price list for the canteen is included in this newsletter.

INFORMATION FOR PARENTS ABOUT HEAD LICE Head lice must be the biggest issue, that cause parents real concern. Don’t hesitate in speaking to me about this issue if you have any questions. The key prevention method is to regularly check your child’s hair.

I am required to ask you to collect your child from school if staff notice live lice in your child’s hair. I will phone you to inform you should staff notice your child has eggs in their hair.

POOL GATE LOCKED FROM 9:05AM –2:30PM AND EXTERNAL GATES NEED TO STAY CLOSED.

I ask for your assistance please to always close the external gates when entering and exiting the school. The pool gate is locked daily as an extra precaution to keep our children safe. Please always enter the school via the office if you arrive at school after 9:00am.

CAR PARKING AT SCHOOL There are 18 car parking spaces available at the rear of the school in Seaham Street, in addition to the spaces in Wickham Street. Please ensure you park rear to the curb at 90 degrees. The back gate will be open each morning and afternoon, to give you easier access to the school. Please observe the no parking signs opposite the front entrance in Wickham Street. Please only park in the disabled park if you have a

disabled sticker. The council do random checks with no notice. The fines are very expensive.

School Facebook Page Our school has an active Facebook page! www.facebook.com/stanfordmerthyr or search Stanford Merthyr Infants School and give it a like! Stay updated with all our school and P&C news and events.

Please be mindful that this is an information page for our school community. Any personal, negative, or inap-propriate posts will be deleted. We ask you to live by our school values when using our Facebook page. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the school directly. If you wish to view our Facebook Policy, please contact the school office or ask me. We also request that you do not upload or tag any photos on our page.

Please inform me if you do not wish to have your child’s photo on any post. Sometimes small videos are also uploaded. Be assured no child is identified by name. Anne Carr Principal

SCHOOL WELFARE AND DISCIPLINE PROCEDURES; POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR FOR LEARNING.

So that we are consistent with all our schools in the Kurri Kurri learning community, we follow the

PBL program. The following show you our current school rules, rewards and consequences. The following are the 3 areas we are addressing, with 4 expectations under each heading:

Each week we will address one expectation. You will be notified on the door to the school office

as to what expectation we are addressing that week. Every Thursday after assembly the whole school will be participating in a PBL lesson addressing the expectation for the following week.

Each PBL school has a mascot. Ours are ‘Stan and Merthi’. Children will receive ‘Stan and Merthi’ tickets for following the weekly expectation. It is their responsibility to write their name on

them and keep them in their tote tray.

Positive Rewards: Tickets awarded each day

Each class teacher will award 3 ‘Stan and Merthi’ tickets for

the classroom

Each playground teacher will award 3 tickets each play time

Mrs Cecatto will award 1 ticket each library lesson

Assembly Awards

On a Thursday one child from each class will receive a PBL certificate and badge for the week based on the weekly focus.

HOW CAN PARENTS GET INVOLVED? INTRODUCING THE P&C. THE PARENTS AND CITIZENS COMMITTEE What is a P&C? A P&C Association is a school-based organisation with membership open to parents, teachers, stu-

dents and interested citizens.

What does the P&C do? • Promotes the interest of the school by bringing parents, citizens, students and teaching staff into

close co-operation, • Assists in providing facilities and equipment for the school and promoting the welfare of the stu-dents at the school. • Encourages parent participation in extra-curricula activities and other educational events in schools.

P&C Meetings Stanford Merthyr Infants School P&C meetings are held either the 2nd or 3rd Monday of each month at 2:00 pm during the school year. All parents and community members are welcome to attend.

These meetings provide a forum for parents to discuss the school’s operation with the school’s Princi-pal. These meetings provide an opportunity to meet in an informal, friendly atmosphere.

P&C Activities Stanford Merthyr Infants School P&C activities range across a number of areas. In prior years, the P&C has been involved with: • Fundraising activities • Upkeep of gardens and grounds

• Assistance with lobbying and applications to obtain additional funding through grants etc • Organising parent- school functions to welcome new families and students

Fundraising One of the main functions of the P&C is to raise funds to help finance school needs that are currently

under resourced. The P&C’s funds have been used in previous years for obtaining: • Upgraded sun shade over the fixed equipment in the playground area • New literacy and numeracy resources for children • Paying for the bus for the school swimming program.

Annual General Meeting (AGM) The Annual General Meeting is held once a year. At this meeting, the P&C executive are elected for the forthcoming year, by attending parents that are financial members of the school P&C. It cost $2 annually to be a member of the P&C.

Make a difference, come and join the Association. Please see me if you have any ques-

tions about the P&C.